Back-vision system for vehicles

ABSTRACT

Back-vision system for vehicles which comprises a microcamera (6) with its corresponding control unit (13) and power-supply source, a housing for the microcamera (6), formed by an external casing (1) and an internal box (2) joined to the external casing (1) and in communication with it, into which the microcamera (6) is introduced, the objective of which microcamera is focused towards the outside through an opening in the external casing (1), and a monitor (21) on which the images picked up by the microcamera (6) can be seen. By placing a microcamera (6) in its corresponding housing in a suitable manner on one of the sides of the vehicle and, optionally one microcamera and its housing on each side, improved back-vision is obtained.

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel external back-vision system formotor vehicles of all types, such as cars, trucks, buses, caravans,etc., and including, in addition, competition vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

External rear-view mirrors of the state of the art involve a number oflimitations which reduce and even cancel out the necessary periodicalinformation which the driver requires of them. Such drawbacks are theexistence of a blindspot in which vision is impossible; non-operation ofthe mirrors in rainy weather; loss of the necessary front vision whenlooking in the mirrors; vulnerability to changes in adjustment orbreakages caused by acts of vandalism, accidents and the like; dazzlingcaused by the headlamps of following vehicles at night or by the sun incertain situations such as, for example, when driving away from the sunat dusk; parking difficulties caused by the lack of reference to theground; difficulties in looking in the mirrors on account of trailersand caravans during certain maneuvers; and, finally, the aerodynamicresistance which external rearview mirrors cause and which, to a greateror lesser degree, translates into an increase in fuel consumption.

Many of these drawbacks are exacerbated in the case of competitionvehicles, particularly in respect of the blindspot, speed of looking inthe mirror, nonoperation in adverse weather conditions and theresistance which conventional rear-view mirrors offer to forwardprogress. In connection with this latter aspect, it must be taken intoaccount that the aerodynamic resistance increases with the square of thevelocity and, therefore, in vehicles moving at over 300 km/h, such asF-1s, prototypes, etc., the rear-view mirrors account for a considerableresistance to forward progress which translates into lower speed andgreater consumption.

There are known video cameras in the state of the art which make itpossible to pick up images and sound and to store them on a tape forsubsequent reproduction on monitors or television screens or,alternatively, to display what is being filmed at the very instant thisis taking place. With the development of the technology and for specificpurposes, models of cameras have been developed which are smaller insize than traditional cameras but which, nevertheless, offer the samelevels of performance: these are known as microcameras and are intendedfor very different uses, including, in particular, security (CCTV),medicine, observing nature, sports broadcasts and other shots inlocations with limited access. However, to date, no use has been foundfor them in the field of back-vision in vehicles nor, of course, havethe problems involved in such an application been solved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All the drawbacks mentioned above are totally or at least verysubstantially eliminated with the rear-view system for vehicles of thepresent invention, which takes advantage of the potential of videocameras for back-vision in motor vehicles.

The present invention therefore relates to a back-vision system forvehicles, which comprises a microcamera, its control unit, thecorresponding monitor and the housing for the microcamera which iscomposed of the assembly formed by an external casing with an opening topermit focusing of the objective of the microcamera and an internal boxin communication with said external casing and open, in a preferredembodiment, on the side opposite it to allow the introduction of themicrocamera. This assembly is finished off, in a preferred embodiment,by a cover which enables the internal box to be closed on the sideopposite the external casing and, in addition, a glass pane to be fittedin the closure of the said opening. Preferably, the space around themicrocamera, inside the assembly formed by the external casing and theinternal box, is filled with an insulating material and, as has justbeen pointed out, the opening of the external casing is closed by meansof a glass pane for protecting the microcamera. All the aforesaidelements form a system which permits back vision on one of the sides ofthe vehicle. However, a second external casing may be installed on theopposite side of the vehicle together with, as appropriate, a secondglass pane, a second internal box, a second microcamera, a second coverand a second control unit for the second microcamera, so as to enjoyvisibility on this second side also. In this case, the same monitor maybe used to receive the images from both microcameras or, alternatively,two monitors may be installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood with reference to theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a longitudinal section of the housing of themicrocamera in one embodiment of the present invention, with themicrocamera installed in it and the cover which finishes it off fitted,as well as of the housing of the control unit of said microcamera.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the housing of the microcamera, whichis still not fitted.

FIG. 3 shows a side, perspective view of a vehicle with the back-visionsystem of the present invention installed.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the dashboard of a vehicle equipped with theback-vision system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings show the housing of the microcameracorresponding to the left hand side of the vehicle. It will easily beunderstood that the back-vision system for vehicles of the presentinvention is equally applicable to the right hand side of the vehicleand the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention which is given below is valid both for a situation in whichthe housing for the microcamera is placed on the left hand side of thevehicle and for a situation in which it is placed on the right.

In a preferred embodiment of the back-vision system for vehicles of thepresent invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, a microcamera (6) ishoused inside an assembly formed by an external casing (1) and aninternal box (2) joined to the external casing (1) and open on the sideon which it is joined to the casing.

The external casing (1) has an aerodynamic shape and is joined to thelateral surface (17) of the body of the vehicle or, alternatively, formsan integral part of the body. Preferably, the position of the externalcasing (1) will correspond to the front upper lateral zone of the bodyof the vehicle (front left fender) as shown in FIG. 3, in a positionwhich is somewhat further forward, therefore, than conventional externalrear-view mirrors. The assembly formed by the external casing (1) andthe internal box (2) is finished off by means of a cover (3). This cover(3) closes the internal box (2) on its side opposite the side which isopen towards the external casing (1), thereby permitting theintroduction of the microcamera (6). The cover (3) is secured by meansof pairs of self-tapping screws (4), (4') to the corresponding orifices(22), (22') provided on individual lugs (2') with which the internal box(2) is equipped, as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The internal box (2), which is of a size somewhat larger than theexternal casing, is fixed, preferably by means of welding, to theinternal part of the sheet metal of the front upper zone of the body ofthe vehicle (front left fender), as may be observed particularly in FIG.1.

The external casing (1) has an opening which receives a glass pane (8)which closes it, as may be seen specifically in FIGS. 1 and 2.Preferably, said glass pane (8) will be heat-shielded, that is to say aglass pane which is insulating with respect to the outside temperatureand with a breaking strength which is greater than that of non-shieldednormal glass panes. To enable the glass pane (8) to be received, in theembodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 provision has been made in the externalcasing (1) for guides (9), (9'), between which a groove (10) is formed,into which the glass pane (8) is introduced. The guide (9) is in theposition of the external casing (1) which corresponds to the limit ofthe internal box (2) which forms the lower part of the opening of theexternal casing (1), whilst the guide (9') is located in the extensionof the external casing (1), in the position which corresponds to theflange (3') of the cover (3), which is used to secure the glass pane(8). The opening of the external casing (1) is extended beyond the glasspane (8), forming a window (11) to protect it against bad weather.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the microcamera (6) is placed inside theassembly formed by the external casing (1) and the internal box (2) sothat its objective focuses towards the rear part of the vehicle,outwards in a slightly oblique manner, through the glass pane (8) andthe window (11) to take maximum advantage of the angle covered by theobjective and, therefore, to further increase the lateral field of view,thereby reducing the blindspot.

The space formed around the microcamera (6) and its corresponding cable(7), inside the assembly made up by the external casing (1) and theinternal box (2) and closed by the glass pane (8), is filled with aninsulating material (5), such as soft rubber or silicone, which protectsthe microcamera (6) against vibrations, extreme temperatures, changes inadjustment and breakages. Said insulating material (5) may be mouldedinto two parts which fill up the internal space of the assembly formedby the external casing (1) and the internal box (2) and closed by theglass pane (8) and the cover (3), the microcamera (6) with itscorresponding cable (7) being introduced into a hollow provided for thispurpose between said parts of insulating material (5) so that the lattercan adapt totally to the outer shape of the microcamera (6) and itscable (7), except for the part corresponding to the objective, to permitfocusing and back vision. The insulating material (5) moulded in thisway is inserted into the internal space defined by the assembly formedby the external casing (1) and the internal box (2), before the cover(3) is fitted. However, other ways of introducing the insulatingmaterial (5) into said space are conceivable (for example, it may beinjected into it).

As may be seen in FIG. 1, in the zone of the lateral surface (17) of thevehicle which corresponds to the external part of the glass pane (8), inthe part opposite the end of the external casing (1) which defines thewindow (11), provision has been made for an orifice (18) whichconstitutes the outlet for a heating tube (19) connected to the mainheating system of the vehicle (not shown). Consequently, the heatingsystem of the back-vision system for vehicles in this embodiment of thepresent invention will begin to operate when the main heating system ofthe vehicle is activated. However, other heating systems are alsopossible (for example, an electric resistance element provided for thispurpose in the glass pane (8)).

The control unit (13) of the microcamera (6), which fulfils thefunctions of powering the microcamera (6) and sending the signalgenerated by the latter to the monitor (21), will preferably beintroduced into a box (14), with appropriately sealed closure, the spacebetween the control unit (13) and the cables (7) and (15) and theinternal faces of the box (14) being filled with an insulating material(5') which may also be of the same type as the insulating material (5)described previously, placed in a similar manner. Given its small size,the control unit (13), with its respective box (14) as appropriate, maybe housed in any of the many vacant sites which are found on the vehicleand preferably in the internal part of the wing of the vehicle, on whoseexternal part the external casing (1) is placed, next to the internalbox (2) and its corresponding cover (3) since there is sufficient spaceat this site to place all these elements.

The connection between the microcamera (6) and its control unit (13)takes place by means of the cable (7) and is facilitated by means of theorifices (12) and (16) made in the internal box (2) and in the box (14)which protects the control unit (13), respectively. This box (14) forprotecting the control unit (13) may be secured by means of anyconventional fixing means and preferably by means of welding to thesheet metal of the vehicle on the internal part of the wing.

The power-supply source for the control unit (13) of the microcamera (6)may be the actual vehicle battery (not shown), suitably connected tosaid control unit (13), it also being possible for the power-supplysystem to be protected against short-circuits by means of theintroduction of a fuse into the power-supply cable (15) which isconnected to the control unit (13) in the box (14), penetrating insidethe latter through the orifice (16'). The entire system will preferablybe actuated by means of the ignition key (20) of the vehicle (FIG. 4),so that actuation of the system is automatic, thereby making itinvulnerable to forgetfulness or distractions. However, it may also beconnected by means of a switch for this purpose on the dashboard of thevehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the monitor (21) will be placed inside the vehicle,on the dashboard, facing the driver as far as possible, to make it easyto view it, and will be equipped with locating accessories which fulfilthe insulating functions of safety or protection which are required toprotect the monitor against extreme temperatures, vibrations, possibleknocks and other eventualities.

As has been indicated, if the back-vision system for vehicles of thepresent invention is applied to obtain back-vision information on bothsides of the vehicle, it is possible either to install two monitors (forexample, on the dashboard, on both sides of the steering wheel, facingthe driver as far as possible), each one of which will provide theimages from one side, or a single monitor whose screen may be dividedinto image sectors, each showing the images from one side.

The above description must be regarded as illustrative and non-limiting.Experts in the art will devise other embodiments of the presentinvention without departing from the scope thereof. It is thereforeessential to take the attached claims into account when determining thescope of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A back-vision system for a vehicle comprising:a rear facingmicrocamera for obtaining optical images external to the vehicle andconverting said optical images to image signals; a housing assembly forsaid microcamera including an external casing adapted for positioning ata first surface of said vehicle and having an opening through which saidmicrocamera can obtain the optical images, an internal portion adaptedfor positioning within the vehicle and connected to said external casingto form a chamber within said housing assembly, a block of insulativematerial securely supporting said microcamera at an angle in saidchamber for viewing through said opening, said block filling saidchamber to hold said microcamera in fixed position in said chamber, saidmicrocamera having an objective lens facing said opening in the externalcasing, a pane of high strength, tempered glass in said opening in saidexternal casing to cover said objective lens of said microcamera, saidexternal casing including a protective extension extending beyond saidpane of glass, means for supplying heat, within said extension adjacentto said pane of glass, said means for supplying heat within saidextension comprising an inlet into said extension and a tube connectedto said inlet to supply heated air thereto from a heating system of thevehicle, a control unit connected to said microcamera for controllingoperation thereof, said control unit being connected to said microcamerato supply power thereto and to receive image signals therefrom; aseparate housing for said control unit adapted for positioning withinsaid vehicle adjacent to said housing assembly for said microcamera, anda further block of insulative material filling said separate housing tohold said control unit in fixed position therein, a power supply unitfor supplying power to said control unit, and a monitor for receivingsignals from said control unit to display images of back vision producedby said microcamera.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidinternal portion of said housing assembly has an open bottom and saidhousing assembly further comprises a cover detachably connected to saidinternal portion to close said open bottom.
 3. A system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said external casing has an aerodynamic shape.
 4. Asystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monitor is supported within acabin of the vehicle to face a driver thereof.
 5. A system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said power supply unit is actuated upon insertion of akey into an ignition opening in the vehicle.
 6. A system as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising:a second said microcamera, a second saidhousing assembly, a second said control unit and associated housing, anda second said monitor to provide a separate image produced by saidsecond microcamera.